This Just In: Rhode Island's COVID death count revised

Also, state puts the brakes on new vanity plates. [providencejournal.com]( This Just In Monday, February 22 [Providence, RI, July 1, 2020 - Barnaby Evans six new luminaria during a nightly ceremony celebrating and commemorating the lives lost in the state from coronavirus. The luminaria was added to the 950 already part of the " Beacon of Hope" WaterFire art installation. For future story, need pix of a new WaterFire art installation titled Beacon of Hope, a nightly ceremony celebrates and commemorates the lives lost in the state, as luminaria are displayed in an otherwise pitch black industrial room, one set out for every person who has died from the disease. [The Providence Journal / Kris Craig]]( [This Just In: Rhode Island's COVID death count revised]( Also, state puts the brakes on new vanity plates. Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal, and I'm happy to report that we're less than four weeks away from spring. Almost time to dust off my back-porch work station. Today was officially the first day that Rhode Islanders between the ages of 65 and 74 could sign up for appointments to get shots of a coronavirus vaccine. (Of course, [a good number in this age group signed up last week]( Registrations for more than 10,000 appointments available this week [filled up in a matter of hours]( and the state is now booking appointments into next week. The state Department of Health [reported nine coronavirus-related deaths and 835 additional cases of COVID-19 over the last three days](. Additionally, the state added 81 coronavirus-related deaths to its past counts. The majority of those deaths occurred in December, which is now considered the deadliest month of the pandemic in Rhode Island. The deadliest single day was Dec. 13, when 30 COVID-positive Rhode Islanders died. There were more than 500 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals for four straight days in mid-December; now, there are fewer than 200. As a result, the field hospitals set up at the Rhode Island Convention Center and on Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston [are about to close]( An interesting, and significant, debate is underway in Rhode Island about whether people considered essential workers [should automatically qualify for workers' compensation benefits]( if they fall ill with COVID-19. Voters in the Ocean State will return to the polls next week, but there won't be any candidates on the ballot. Instead, their votes will determine the fate of seven bond questions that would approve a total of $400 million in state borrowing for various projects. Here is [your quick, handy guide]( to the ballot questions. Speaking of money, flood insurance could get a lot more expensive in Rhode Island as a result of climate change. New research from the New York-based First Street Foundation [breaks down just how much]( Lt. Gov. Dan McKee provided some insight on his thinking about public schools [in this Q&A]( that we are publishing in tandem with the education website The 74. Rhode Island has temporarily [halted issuing vanity license plates]( as a result of a federal court ruling that the state's policy on denying plates it deems too risqué violates free speech. In case you missed it over the weekend, Mark Patinkin learned [what a day in the life is like]( for Frank Picozzi, the long-time blue-collar guy who was just elected mayor of Warwick. This seems like an obvious point, but you shouldn't try to carry [martial arts throwing knives]( onto a plane. After one not-so-great season in New England, Cam Newton doesn't have a job lined up for 2021, but that doesn't matter as much when you've already made $122 million in salary. [He made that point]( in response to a heckler over the weekend. Finally, congratulations to North Kingstown High sophomore Olivia Priest, [who made it no contest]( over the weekend at the state's high-school gymnastics championship. Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, [please encourage a friend to sign up]( [Discover more with our newsletters: Get the latest headlines, things to do and more in your inbox. Sign up here.]( [click here]( Problem viewing email? [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( • [Manage Newsletters]( • [Terms of Service]( • [Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights]( • [Privacy Notice]( • [Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy]( • [Feedback]( © 2021 75 Fountain St. , Providence, RI 02902